Animal health certificates and other pet travel documents

Taking your pet on holiday overseas can be a wonderful experience for you both, but it does take some organising. At Southill Vets, we can provide the necessary health checks, animal health certificates and any export health documentation your pet requires to travel overseas.

Contact us to book a travel consultation

 

Pet travel requirements

At Southill Vets, members of our Veterinary Team hold Official Veterinarian (OV) status, which is a requirement to be able to issue animal health certificates (AHC) and other documentation for pet travel around the world. You should begin the process of arranging the necessary pet travel paperwork at least 4 weeks before you plan to travel, longer if you are travelling outside of the EU.

 

Travelling to EU countries with your pet dog, assistance dog, cat or ferret

When travelling to an EU country, your pet needs:

  • To be microchipped
  • An Animal Health Certificate (AHC) issued within 10 days of travel, or a valid EU-issued pet passport*
    • Your pet’s Animal Health Certificate will be valid after the date of issue for 10 days for entry into the EU, 4 months for onward travel within the EU after you enter the EU, and 4 months for re-entry to Great Britain.
  • A valid rabies vaccination
    • Pets must be at least 12 weeks old before vaccinating
    • New vaccinations must be given at least 21 days before travel
    • If your pet is due a rabies booster vaccination, no waiting period is required if there’s no gap in vaccine coverage
  • Tapeworm treatment for dogs if travelling directly to Finland, Ireland, Norway or Malta

*Pet passports issued in Great Britain (England, Wales or Scotland) are not valid for travel to EU countries.

You will need to show your pet’s documents upon arrival. Rules for repeat trips and travelling with more than five pets can be found on the Government’s travel advice site: www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad

Returning to Great Britain from the EU:

If you’re travelling with a dog, you’ll need to ensure they receive a tapeworm treatment before re-entering Great Britain. This must be given by a vet no less than 24 hours and no more than 120 hours (5 days) before re-entry.

 

Travelling to Northern Ireland with your pet dog, assistance dog, cat or ferret – New rules from 4th June 2025

From 4 June 2025, new rules now apply when taking a pet dog, cat, ferret, or assistance dog from Great Britain to Northern Ireland. GB residents will be able to travel under the Northern Ireland Pet Travel Scheme (NIPTS). The scheme is designed to make pet travel between GB and NI simple and efficient, while maintaining compliance with EU regulations for any onward journeys into the EU (including Ireland).

To travel with your pet under NIPTS, you’ll need to:

  • Have your pet microchipped
  • Apply for a free Northern Ireland Pet Travel Document (PTD) – this does not require a vet visit
  • Sign a declaration confirming your pet will not continue on to the EU
  • Let the the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) know at least 10 working days before travelling by air.

Your pet’s microchip will be scanned at the port or airport – officials will check that the microchip number matches the one on your pet’s PTD. If travelling onwards to Ireland or another EU country, your pet will need an Animal Health Certificate, rabies vaccination, and tapeworm treatment if required by the destination country.

You can find more information about the scheme and how to apply here: www.daera-ni.gov.uk/articles/great-britain-northern-ireland-pet-travel-guidance. Learn more about these new rules and the process for travelling by ferry or airplane here: www.gov.uk/taking-your-pet-abroad/travelling-to-northern-ireland

 

Travelling to a non-EU country / Rest of the World

We recommend that you research the requirements for exporting your pet to a destination outside of the EU well in advance of your travel dates. For some countries with strict requirements, you may need to start preparing for your pet’s trip eight months in advance.

In order to take your pet to a country outside of the EU, you will need to get an export health certificate (EHC), and complete an export application form (EXA) if you are in England, Scotland, or Wales. The export health certificate checks that your pet meets the health requirements of the country you are travelling to – you must nominate an officially recognised Vet who will be sent the EHC to complete during the required health check. The EHC and EXA forms for each country and pet will tell you how to apply.

Contact us to book a travel consultation